Each week I will list 5 players I would start, 5 I would sit, and 5 I might take a chance on.
Also by now you should know to start your studs like Manning, Brady and LT, if not you need more then my help.
Week 9
If I owned these guys I'm starting them:
1. RB Kevin Jones Det-Everybody saw what Ryan Grant was able to do against the Broncos run D. As Jones has gotten back into game shape, his workload has increased and Tatum Bell was inactive last week, when Jones put up a hundo and a TD on the Bears.
2. RB LenDale White Ten-White has done his best the last 2 weeks to shed the "LenWhale" label by putting up 2 100+ yards games. Both games were against poor run D's but encouraging for White none the less. This week he should continue his success against Carolina who is allowing 113 rush yards per game. White may end up being the better runner out of the USC duo, he formed with Reggie Bush.
3. RB Marshawn Lynch Buf-Lynch appears on this list for the 2nd straight week, The Bills play a Cinci run D that has lost so many LBs this season, they started putting pictures on milk cartons. Cinci is allowing a whopping 139 rush yards per game. Lynch should get a hundred and the TD he didn't get last week.
4. WR Brandon Stokley Den-Since overcoming his own injury, he has seen a increase in looks in the absence of Javon Walker. Stokley has averaged 5 catches for 70.5 yds and .5 TDs in the last 2 games. against two tough D's (Pit, GB) and this week gets the Lions, who are allowing 258 yards through the air. Expect similar numbers and a good bet for a TD this week.
5. WR Braylon Edwards Clev-Last week, I talked about his QB Anderson being an every week play, and some owners still don't realize that Edwards is also. In his last 6 games his lowest yardage output was 67, but he had 3 TDs that game. Edwards is the favorite target of Anderson with 9TDs on the season, 5 in the last 2 games. Seattle is ranked 16th against the pass and are 4th in points allowed but Edwards is an no matter waht every week play.
These are guys I'm sitting:
1. RB Shaun Alexander Sea-He actually has a good matchup against the Browns, but Alexander (the great?) has been a fraud this year. Over the last four games he has averaged only 2.7 yards per carry against easy run D's like SF, Stl and NO and he hasn't scored a TD since week 2. Chances are you have someone on your bench that is putting up better numbers.
2. RB Cedric Benson Chi-Alexander makes Benson look like a star, but he is another back who has not lived up to his preseason hype. Benson has a per game rushing average of 58.3. "The other" Adrian Peterson has averaged over 5 yards per carry, in limited work, but after this week against Oakland, the going gets tough for Ced Ben and he may start to lose carries. If your teammates don't like you, its hard for a fantasy owner to like you. Again you have to have a better option then Benson. UPDATE: You should have sat Benson anyway because he was on Bye this week.
3. WR Vincent Jackson SD-Again its not really the matchup (Min) that has me sitting Jackson. With the arrival of Chris Chambers, Jackson only caught one pass last week. He now sits behind Gates, LT and Chambers for looks and he is no longer a smart play.
4. QB Kurt Warner AZ-Warner has a tough matchup against Tampa Bay who is only giving up 173 passing yards per game and less then a TD per game. Warner has had sometime to allow his non throwing elbow injury to heal, but I have heard he may lose goal line plays to Tim Rattay to try and protect his elbow injury. Over the past few years we have had to deal with goal line backs, but now goal line Qbs? Before AZ's bye, Warner did have a decent game on the road, 282 yds, 2TDs against a tough Washington D that also forced 2 picks and a Warner fumble. Instead of taking your chances on Warner this week, try to figure out who has a better flat top, Kurt or his wife, Brenda.
5. QB Daunte Culpepper Oak-Houston is only giving up 208 through the air and C-Pep has only averaged 163. He hasn't done much to take advantage of his opportunity to start, 2 TDs and 4 INTs in his last 3 games. Josh McCown or JaMarcus Russell could replace C-Pep at any moment. Update: Lane Kiffin must be reading the blog, becuase Oakland will start McCown in Week 9.
These are 5 guys I might take a chance on this week:
1. QB JP Losman Buf-Losman gets another chance to start and makes a good sleeper pick against the Bengals who allow 258 passing yards and have allowed 211 points in 7 games (30.1 per game) As I mentioned earlier this week Losman was a breakout candidate going into the season after finishing last season as the 11th ranked passer.
2. K Jason Hanson Det-Last week, I suggested Gostkowski who put up 10 points. This week I like Hanson playing at home in the dome. Denver is allowing 26.1 points per game and Hanson has averaged 10.5 points the last 2 games.
3. RB Adimchinobi Echemandu Hou-Say that fast 5 times, heck say it just once. He was on the Raiders practice squad just a month ago and got a chance last week with the injury to Ahman Green (who despite being probable, was inactive?) "Joe" had 10 carries for 62 yards, splitting carries with a less effective "Fat" Ron Dayne. This week Houston plays Oakland who is allowing 149 yards per game on the ground. Also, with Schaub likely out with a concussion Houston could rely on the run. Follow Green's status, as he did practice Thursday, remember he practiced in full last Friday. Even if Green plays "Joe" may get the carries Dayne use to.
4. WR Roddy White Atl-White has been one of the few bright spots for the Falcons this year, before the bye he had 8 catches for 122 yds and TD and just missed a 2nd TD. The 49ers are 22nd against the pass, so White has a chance provided the Falcon's QBs can stay upright this week.
5. TE Tony Scheffler Den-Scheff has scored in the last 2 games and as discussed above Detroit isn't very good against the pass. Also remember, at the end of last season Scheff was Cutler's favorite target because of their familiarity of being on the scout team together, early last season.
Feel free to email fantasy questions concerning start/sits, waiver pickups and/or trades to TTOHblog@hotmail.com
